Analysis of Cytosine Methylation Pattern in Response to Water Deficit in Pea Root Tips

DNA cytosine methylation is one of the main epigenetic mechanisms in higher eukaryotes and is considered to play a key role in transcriptional gene silencing. In plants, cytosine methylation can occur in all sequence contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH), and its levels are controlled by multiple pathways, including de novo methylation, maintenance methylation, and demethylation. Modulation of DNA methylation represents a potentially robust mechanism to adjust gene expression following exposure to different stresses. However, the potential involvement of epigenetics in plant-virus interactions has been scarcely explored, especially with regard to RNA viruses. Here, we studied the impact of a symptomless viral infection on the epigenetic status of the host genome. We focused our attention on the interaction between Nicotiana benthamiana and Pelargonium line pattern virus (PLPV, family Tombusviridae), and analyzed cytosine methylation in the repetitive genomic element corresponding to ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Through a combination of bisulfite sequencing and RT-qPCR, we obtained data showing that PLPV infection gives rise to a reduction in methylation at CG sites of the rDNA promoter. Such a reduction correlated with an increase and decrease, respectively, in the expression levels of some key demethylases and of MET1, the DNA methyltransferase responsible for the maintenance of CG methylation. Hypomethylation of rDNA promoter was associated with a five-fold augmentation of rRNA precursor levels. The PLPV protein p37, reported as a suppressor of post-transcriptional gene silencing, did not lead to the same effects when expressed alone and, thus, it is unlikely to act as suppressor of transcriptional gene silencing. Collectively, the results suggest that PLPV infection as a whole is able to modulate host transcriptional activity through changes in the cytosine methylation pattern arising from misregulation of methyltransferases/demethylases balance.

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Tolerance mechanisms in maize identified through phenotyping and transcriptome analysis in response to water deficit stress

Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants ◽

10.1007/s12298-021-01003-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mandapaka Maheswari ◽

Yellisetty Varalaxmi ◽

Basudeb Sarkar ◽

Nakka Ravikumar ◽

Maddi Vanaja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Deficit ◽

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Water Deficit Stress ◽

Tolerance Mechanisms ◽

Response To Water

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Candidate genes and SNPs associated with stomatal conductance under drought stress in Vitis

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-020-02739-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Massimiliano Trenti ◽

Silvia Lorenzi ◽

Pier Luigi Bianchedi ◽

Daniele Grossi ◽

Osvaldo Failla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Stomatal Conductance ◽

Candidate Genes ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Genetic Basis ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Snp Array ◽

A Genome ◽

Raffinose Synthase ◽

Response To Water

Abstract Background Understanding the complexity of the vine plant’s response to water deficit represents a major challenge for sustainable winegrowing. Regulation of water use requires a coordinated action between scions and rootstocks on which cultivars are generally grafted to cope with phylloxera infestations. In this regard, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach was applied on an ‘ad hoc’ association mapping panel including different Vitis species, in order to dissect the genetic basis of transpiration-related traits and to identify genomic regions of grape rootstocks associated with drought tolerance mechanisms. The panel was genotyped with the GrapeReSeq Illumina 20 K SNP array and SSR markers, and infrared thermography was applied to estimate stomatal conductance values during progressive water deficit. Results In the association panel the level of genetic diversity was substantially lower for SNPs loci (0.32) than for SSR (0.87). GWAS detected 24 significant marker-trait associations along the various stages of drought-stress experiment and 13 candidate genes with a feasible role in drought response were identified. Gene expression analysis proved that three of these genes (VIT_13s0019g03040, VIT_17s0000g08960, VIT_18s0001g15390) were actually induced by drought stress. Genetic variation of VIT_17s0000g08960 coding for a raffinose synthase was further investigated by resequencing the gene of 85 individuals since a SNP located in the region (chr17_10,497,222_C_T) was significantly associated with stomatal conductance. Conclusions Our results represent a step forward towards the dissection of genetic basis that modulate the response to water deprivation in grape rootstocks. The knowledge derived from this study may be useful to exploit genotypic and phenotypic diversity in practical applications and to assist further investigations.

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miR398 and miR408 are up-regulated in response to water deficit in Medicago truncatula

Planta ◽

10.1007/s00425-009-1078-0 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 231 (3) ◽

pp. 705-716 ◽

Cited By ~ 255

Author(s):

Inês Trindade ◽

Cláudio Capitão ◽

Tamas Dalmay ◽

Manuel Pedro Fevereiro ◽

Dulce Metelo dos Santos

Keyword(s):

Water Deficit ◽

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Response To Water

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Variation of cytosine methylation in response to water availability in two contrasting growth types of an amphibious plant Alternanthera philoxeroides

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology ◽

10.1016/j.bse.2013.03.053 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 ◽

pp. 175-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Weiguo Li ◽

Wenbo Chen ◽

Xiaofeng Qi ◽

Qingfeng Wang ◽

Jinming Chen

Keyword(s):

Water Availability ◽

Cytosine Methylation ◽

Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽

Growth Types ◽

Amphibious Plant ◽

Response To Water

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Relationships between physiological traits and productivity of sugarcane in response to water deficit

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859612000834 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 152 (1) ◽

pp. 104-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

M. DE A. SILVA ◽

J. L. JIFON ◽

J. A. G. DA SILVA ◽

C. M. DOS SANTOS ◽

V. SHARMA

Keyword(s):

Water Deficit ◽

Field Studies ◽

Water Deficit Stress ◽

Chlorophyll Contents ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Relative Water ◽

Leaf Relative Water Content ◽

Sugarcane Productivity ◽

Response To Water

SUMMARYThe relationships between physiological variables and sugarcane productivity under water deficit conditions were investigated in field studies during 2005 and 2006 in Weslaco, Texas, USA. A total of 78 genotypes and two commercial varieties were studied, one of which was drought-tolerant (TCP93-4245) and the other drought-sensitive (TCP87-3388). All genotypes were subjected to two irrigation regimes: a control well-watered treatment (wet) and a moderate water-deficit stress (dry) treatment for a period of 90 days. Maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), estimated chlorophyll content (SPAD index), leaf temperature (LT), leaf relative water content (RWC) and productivity were measured. The productivity of all genotypes was, on average, affected negatively; however, certain genotypes did not suffer significant reduction. Under water deficit, the productivity of the genotypes was positively and significantly correlated with Fv/Fm, SPAD index and RWC, while LT had a negative correlation. These findings suggest that genotypes exhibiting traits of high RWC values, high chlorophyll contents and high photosynthetic radiation use efficiency under low moisture availability should be targeted for selection and variety development in programmes aimed at improving sugarcane for drought prone environments.

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